Second Hand Books – Where to find them
Today’s post is going to be all about second hand books and the best places to find them. There are so many benefits to buying books second hand, or even finding some for free – more about that later. Buying second hand books gives those books a second chance at life and saves them from potentially ending up in landfill. It is also the perfect opportunity to find popular books at the fraction of the price, saving yourself some cash. Which is always a bonus!
So, where to find these books? Let me tell you everything I know..
Charity Shops
This is one of my absolute favourite options, there are so many dotted around and I always find myself finding hidden gems within them. I find this option really fun, rummaging through the shelves in the charity shops like I’m digging for gold. Also the mysterious aspect of never really knowing which books you will find and take home. Not to mention the absolute bargain prices compared to RRP (and no delivery fees.) You would be surprised just how many of the books are in great condition too! It can also be great fun to explore the charity shops with friends/family, I enjoy going with my son and my partner!
Vinted
Another great option for finding books at the fraction of the price is using an app called ‘Vinted.’ Especially if you prefer to do your book shopping online, or if you’re an introvert like me and sometimes just don’t feel up to going out to the shops. There are some advantages of using Vinted, the main one has to be the ability to search for the exact book that you are looking for and most of the time being shown loads of options. You can sort price low-high meaning you can see the best bargains instantly. It’s also a bonus if you come across a seller who has the same taste in books as you, you can even browse their profile and create bundles if you wish to! It is worth mentioning that Vinted is a brilliant way to unhaul books that you no longer want/need too. I do this and use the money I make to buy new ones.
Little Free Libraries
Little Free Libraries (LFL) are a fantastic way to find second hand books. The idea is that you take a book you’re interested in and leave one of your old ones there for someone else to enjoy. Then, once you have read that book you return it, and pick up something new from there! This option is so much fun and an opportunity to read for free, whilst getting involved with your local community. I always get so excited when I come across a new one, the ones near me are usually in old, disused red telephone boxes that have been converted into LFL’s. You can visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/ where you can enter your postcode and discover LFL’s near you if you haven’t spotted any on your travels as of yet.
Overall, I love all of these options for finding second hand books, I regularly use them when I’m feeling like I want to update my bookshelves. I would definitely recommend checking out your local charity shops and Little Free Libraries as well as visiting Vinted. I hope you have found this blog post useful, go find yourself a bargain and happy shopping!
